Post-doctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Gianmarc Grazioli
Post-doctoral Scholar
Joint Post-doc with Carter Butts (Sociology, Statistics, and EECS, UCI)
Ph.D.Theoretical Chemistry, UCI, 2015
M.S. Chemistry, Villanona University, 2007
B.S. Comprehensive Science, Villanona University, 2004
B.A. Liberal Arts, Villanona University, 2003
Fun Fact: Gianmarc can often be found ‘whipping his hair back and forth’ to music by Willow Smith.
Megha Unhelkar
Analytical Chemistry Graduate Student
M.S. Pharmacology, Northeastern University, 2013
B.S. Pharmacy, University of Mumbai, 2011
munhelka@uci.edu
Fun Fact: While hiking across the Rockies last summer, Megha adopted a baby puma. “It was the most magical eight minutes of life before we were nearly mauled,” she said.
Vy Duong
Biophysical Chemistry Graduate Student
Joint Student with Ray Luo (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry UCI)
B.A. Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley, 2013
vyd2@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Vy has vision better than 20/20. Despite this, she insists on wearing glasses as a “fashion statement.”
Jessica Kelz
Chemical and Materials Physics (ChaMP – Chemistry) Graduate Student
B.S. Chemistry, Mandarin Chinese Minor, US Naval Academy, 2008
jkelz@uci.edu
Fun Fact: While abroad before graduate school, Jessica spent over a year teaching children how to yodel. “If yodeling isn’t music, then I don’t know what music is” she says.
Marc Anthony Sprague-Piercy
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California – Irvine, 2015
Fun Fact: Marc thinks he’s funny. Example: What did the fish say when he hit a concrete wall? ‘Dam’.
Brenna Norton-Baker
Organic Chemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Biochemistry, B.A. Chemistry, College of Charleston, 2015
bnortonb@uci.edu
Fun Fact: When not working in lab, Brenna can be found woodworking. Her most notable works are a 15 foot tall replica Trojan horse and 1/100 scale model of the the Eiffel Tower!
Jose Uribe
Physical Chemistry Graduate Student
jluribe@uci.edu
Megan Rocha
Chemical Biology Graduate Student
rochama@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Megan has a recurring dream about burrito babies, so now she insists on naming each one of the burritos she orders. Some of her favorites are Vegeta (vegetarian), Hamilton (carnitas), and Keegan (vegan).
Undergraduate Researchers
David Einstein
Biological Sciences Major (2020, Expected)
deinstei@uci.edu
Fun Fact: David plays a five string bass guitar in an air band named “Consequence of Sound.”
Alexandra Garabedian
Chemistry Major (2020, Expected)
Fun Fact: She loves travelling and skiing with her family in the Alps. A big fan of the movie “Cool Runnings”, she carries a lucky egg with her whenever first attempting a new piste.
Ashley Kwok
Chemistry Major (2020, Expected)
aokwok@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Ashley is the proud owner of a rescue ferret named Mossbauer. One of her dreams is for Mossbauer to qualify to compete at the Chatsworth County Fair which is known as the Kentucky Derby of ferret racing.
Chieh-Ting Pu
Chemistry Major (2020, Expected)
chiehtip@uci.edu
Quynh Ton
Chemistry Major / Biology Minor (2020, Expected)
tonq@uci.edu
Shengdong Wang
Chemistry Major (2020, Expected)
shengdow@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Most people respond by yawning when they see someone else yawn. Shengdong is prone to involuntarily sneezing when he sees someone yawn.
Elliott Einstein
Biology Major / Chemistry Minor (2021, Expected)
eeinstei@uci.edu
Fun Fact: He intentionally pops his lab coat collar. Not only is it more safety conscious, but as a fan of tennis, he claims it helps him “get his head in the game” in lab.
Allison Pineda
Biology Major (2021, Expected)
Fun Fact: Allison enjoys watching horror films but does have an interesting phobia. She is scared of the sound of cracking knuckles (Condylacousticophobia).
Sofiya Momoko Woodcock
Double Major in Chemistry and Criminology, Law, and Society (2021, Expected)
swoodcoc@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Sofiya is a saber fencer. To get amped up for a match she uses the mantra “My name is Sofiya Woodcock. You assaulted my plastron. Prepare to die!”
Pauniz Shabakesaz
Vesta Farahmand